7-11-2026 Practicing a Religion or Living in Faith  

At the church I attend, for a while now, we have been talking about realigning our lives with God, through the Holy Ghost, so we make the right decisions for the crossroads we face, understanding our relationship with the Lord then applying what we learn into our lives so we can better serve the Lord.

Today, how many people do we think are living in faith or just practicing a religion?  It makes a difference.  Israel thought they were doing the right thing by keeping the Law, but take note that Jesus had to reprimand them for knowing the Law but not living by it (Matt. 23:1-7).

On 5-30-2026, I posted on the blog “Religion vs Faith.  Father has given me a couple of ‘tweaks’ since then. 

In that entry I gave definitions for religion and faith along with a couple of their associated words.  Please refer back to that 5-3-2026 entry to review the definitions for here, I’ll start with the conclusions

So very basically, religion is believing in a set of rules while religious is putting those rules into practice.

Faith and faithful bring into ‘not just knowing’ the principles and putting those principles into practice but truly believing in what we profess with all our heart, mind and spirit that which is  true (Matt. 22:37).  That is we truly understand who God is and what we believe and accept Him and His statutes, without any doubt.

In a cult, people allow someone else to form their belief system and either don’t know or don’t care about checking it out to see if what is being said is true or not.  They practice a ‘religion’, a set of concepts and rules which they really (usually) don’t understand.

We all have our own concepts of what these words mean, but hopefully, this list will bring us to a better understanding of how we can discover what we are reading in the scriptures or hearing from other people.  All helping us to follow the pathway God, the Creator of all things, which He has intended for us.  That is discovering the difference between just knowing about rites and rituals, but living in their truth from our heart (Job 42:5).

Today, how Many Christians are just abiding in a set of rules versus truly living in faith.  Out of about 8 billion people in the world less than 1/3 profess to be Christian.  Out of the approximately 265 billion Christians how many truly are abiding in God’s guidelines?

At church, we’ve been talking about Awakening our Spiritual Senses, Understanding the Times we are in, Removing Veils and being ready to move into the Next Season.  In some form or fashion, we have been doing this for a year.

Father tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  The first and greatest commandment is to love God above all else land then love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31) because, upon these two commandments rests the law and what motivated the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).  We show our faith by keeping God’s law and God’s law is to love – as God loves us.  God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son to stand in for us, on the cross, for the judgements we deserve (John 3:16).  This enables us to live eternally with Him as faith in (Jesus) cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:4-7). 

I’ve known Christians who have worked themselves ‘ragged’ doing things in the church, yet we may find some who labor in the church will find themselves left out.  Some will ask “Lord “Haven’t we prophesied, in your name cast out devils and done many wonderful works?”  And Jesus’s reply will be “I never knew you, depart you who work iniquity” “(Matt. 7:21-23).  Why?  Doing the commandments of men make the works of God of no effect.  We discover many will honor God with their lips but their heart will be far from Him (Matt. 15:1-9).

Jesus told His disciples to ‘beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees’.  The disciples came to understand that Jesus was talking about what those men preached (Matt. 16:6-12).  That is beware of men who use the Law, not to help men to grow in the Lord, but to hold control over men for their own purposes.  And these things are why Jesus tells us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).   We need to know what we are up against but remember to always be humble (gentle) our job is to bring souls to Jesus Christ – in love, not to squash them with our knowledge. 

We need the Holy Ghost in us (John 14:16-18).  The Holy Ghost will give us what to say when we need it (John 16:13-16).  Jesus commands us to receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:21-22) for then we shall have power - to be witness and to able to do the things that Jesus did (Acts 1:7-8 & John 14:12-14).  Father will reveal things to us through His Spirit (HG).  The Holy Ghost will teach us what to say as He compares Spiritual things to spiritual things because through Him (HG) we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinth. 2:10-16).  So we trust in the Lord with all our heart and not with our own understanding and acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our path (Prov.3:5-6).

OF course, for all this to matter, we need to have received Jesus into our heart as Lord and Savior (Rom. 10:9).  We need to acknowledge that Jesus took ‘my place’ on the cross so I might have life and healing in living for Him (1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18).

Jesus taught and preached the kingdom of God to His disciples (Luke 3:23, so we can understand our relationship with the living God (Acts 1:3).  That Relationship is that The Father is in Jesus, Jesus is in the Father and Jesus is in us and we in Jesus (John 14:11, 20). 

The power of God is in us through the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8), and that is the same power with which Jesus operated (God commanded and the Holy Ghost [breath] carried God’s Words into action – Gen. 1:1-31).  We can do those things which Jesus did (John 14:12-4)!  (Where is our faith?)

The Holy Ghost was given to the apostles and disciples in the upper room (Acts 2:1-4) yet we may receive the HG at the same time when we receive Jesus as with Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48) or as with Phillip and the Samarians After they had received Jesus, Peter and John came up to the Samaritans so they might be baptized in the HG (Acts 8:5-17).

Father gives Jesus the works to do and Jesus gives us those works to do.  Jesus says that as we keep His Commandments, we can ask Father anything in His name and He (Jesus) will do it enabling us to do what Jesus, Himself, did (John 14:11-17).  All because Jesus has returned to the Father, yet, He will come back for us (John 14:3)! PTL!

So we need faith to truly understand religion so we can accomplish what Jesus has set before us.  It isn’t just knowing what to do, but reaching down into the power (thru the HG) to go and ‘git ‘er done!

The difference between religion and faith comes into reality through our relationship with the Lord.  If we love Jesus, we are going to do His works.  If we don’t do His works do we truly love Jesus or do we just love the praises of man?  Do we do the works to show that the love of Jesus abides in us (via the Holy Ghost)?    Do we just follow a set of rules set forth by man?  Do we truly embrace God’s love by living the lifestyle Father has set before us and then learning how to do it? 

Allowing Father’s love to operate in us and through us in the Holy Ghost enables us to sharpen our Spiritual senses so we can recognize the times we are in and remove the veil hindering us so we can reach and fulfill the tasks Father may have laid before us.

Paul tells us not to quench the Holy Ghost (1 Thess. 5:19). Are we allowing the HG to awaken our Spiritual senses so we can understand the times we are in, so we can remove the Veils, so we can move so we can walk closer with the Lord so we can accomplish what Father has planned for us?

Amen

6-27-2026 God is with us

He shall be called Emmanuel, God is with us – Emmanouel G1694) and His name shall be called Jesus (Matt. 1:20-25)          

The name "Jesus" originates from the Hebrew and Aramaic name “Yeshua” (a variant of Yehoshua). Meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "the Lord saves", this name encapsulates identity and divine purpose. Across linguistic and historical shifts, the name evolved into its modern English form:

Hebrew/Aramaic: Yeshua (ישוע)

Koine Greek: Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς)

Latin: Iesus

English: Jesus 

Joseph was of David’s lineage (Matt. 1:6-15) . (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_(name))

Mary was a cousin to Elisabeth (Luke 1:36) and Elisabeth is identified as a daughter of Aaron (Luke 1:5) implying that Mary was also a descendant (a cousin to Elisabeth) of Aaron. Joseph was in David’s lineage (Matt. 1:6-16) though Jesus wasn’t Joseph’s biological son, he was still considered a first born son (Matt. 1:25) as Joseph took Jesus as his own son thus giving Jesus both royal (through David) and priestly (through Mary, being related to Aaron) heritage

In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and he Word was God. (John 1:1).  John goes on “The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him and there was nothing made without Him.  In the Word was life and the life was the light of men.  The light shined in the darkness and the darkness didn’t comprehend it (John 1:2-5).   The Word is the Light and became flesh as the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14).   

I’ve shared some background on the meaning of the name of “Jesus”.  Hopefully, this helps us understand a little bit more. 

In “Let’s Get a Handle” (blog 5-2-2026) I pray that we got the understanding that God is LOVE, agape love.  This is an all caring about our welfare kind of love with tenderness, guidance and correction.  He cares so much for us that He gave Himself for us (on the cross) and even has breathed His life into us via the Holy Ghost.  He truly loves us.  All we have to do is ‘truly’ love Him back by following His direction tkhrough living in this Word.

Love us?  Paul tells us that Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5-6), yet we still have to believe and accept this to be true (Mark 11:24) in our own lives.  Father loved Jesus as Jesus loves us so we need to continue in that love (Mark 15:5:9).

So how do we express our love God?  The ‘beatitudes’ help us to understand this. 

Matthew 5:3-12. 

³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This doesn’t mean poor as in penniless but that to understand that in and of ourselves, we are nothing.  Jesus provides (Phil, 4:19) for us all that we have from and through His love.  We totally depend on the Lord, yet remember Father blesses us through our obedience (Luke 11:28).

⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

When we lose something, a loved one or even a cherished possession, Father gives us comfort for our loss (1 Corinth. 1:3).  Here, to mourn is he Greek word pentheo (G3996) which is to mourn or wail.  We are deeply hurt over our loss and God will comfort us, help us to feel ‘better’ though we have lost something precious.

⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Meek is the Greek word praus (G4239) which is humble.  Being humble is not considering ourselves better than those around us.  We are all a creation of God which puts us all on the same level.  We need to remember this, no matter how successful we become in this life.

⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Hunger and thirst.  Hunger is the word peino G3983) which is to  famish, crave or be really hungry for.  The Greek word for thirsty is dipsao (G1372) which implies a great thirst for a drink.  Righteousness is dikaiosune (G1343) which is justification or righteousness. In other words, we live our lives to please God as though our very lives depend upon it for truly it does.  Father will help us to accomplish the tasks that come before us.  And living righteously (in God’s standards) keeps us in the good graces of Father.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Merciful is the Greek word eleemon (G1655) which is merciful or compassionate.  Not just feeling sorry for but caring truly enough to do something to help others and, as he passage says, God will help us.  Paul reminds us that whatever we do should edify others (Eph. 4:29).    

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Pure is the Greek word katharos (G2513) which pure, clean or clear.  This does not mean ‘never sinned’ (Only Jesus fulfills that description), but when we do sin, we confess that sin so that there is nothing that is not covered by the blood Christ in our lives.  That means not sinning in what we think as well as in what we do (Matt. 5:28) and then confess and repent (1 John 1:8-10).

 

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Peacemakers is the Greek word eirenepoioe (G1518) which is peacemakers or peaceable.  In other words don’t look for a fight but try to find a non-violent solution for everything that comes our way.  When we are at peace with others, we have peace in our own heart.

¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecuted is the Greek word dioko (G1377) which is to pursue, press toward or persecute. The priests and Pharisees had commanded people to tell them if they knew where Jesus was (John 11:46-57).  They pursued Him, without giving up, all the way to the cross.

¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Persecute and revile,  oneidizo (G3679) the Greek word which is revile, taunt, upbraid or reproach.  Did not those, at the high priest’s house, strike Jesus before taking Him to Pilate (Matt. 26:65-68)?  And isn’t the cross the ultimate abuse the Romans could inflict upon someone (Mark 15:15-38)?  Even Pilate realized that the church leaders envied Jesus (Matt. 27:18-24) and yet he had Jesus scourged (whipped) (John 19:1-3).   

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Satan is the prince and power of the air (Eph. 2:2) as God cast him down to the earth (Rev. 12:9), so, (in this world) he influences much of what men of disobedience do.

Yet, as believers, should the world similarly administer afflictions upon us, should we not rejoice that the world has found us worthy to treat us the same as they treated the prophets and Jesus.  

BUT, also as with Jesus, who was raised into glory, won’t we be raised with Him into glory – forever?  As we love and live in our Lord Jesus, is our life not hid with Him in the Father?   If so, won’t we appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:1-4)?

The “Beatitudes” are a guide to our way of life in this world.  We have comfort in knowing that Jesus is always with us – no matter how good or how bad life seems.  Paul tells us to run the race and expect to win (1 Corinth. 9:24).  The path is straight and narrow and there are few who enter in (Matt. 7:13-14).  In crossing that finish line, we all win – eternal fellowship with our Lord and Savior (Rom. 6:23)!

Amen

 

 

6-13-2026    Kingdom Mindset   

 

Life is filled with choices.  Do we trust God emphatically or do we choose to go our own way?  A kingdom mindset is believing God truly is – Creator of all things.  It is accepting God for who He is and what He has, is and what He will and do for us.  It is understanding what he expects from us in this relationship.  Finally, it is not doubting but rather trusting Father in and for all things.

Believe

In the beginning God … (Gen 1:1).  These first four words of the bible are the foundation of a Kingdom Mindset.  It is the basis for what we believe and/or what we know. 

The earth was without form.  The Hebrew word for ‘form is tohu, which means without form, confusion, empty, nothing.  There was just God Elohiym (plural of Eloaah, Gen. 1:1) a diety, God; the ‘I Am’ or Yahweh (YHWH )(Exod. 3:14); El which is God, great or mighty one (Gen. 16:13); or Jehovah (YHWH) all sufficient or eternal (Gen. 6:5).

God is Spirit, we worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).  The Spirit of God is expressed as His breath (Gen. 1:2, Gen. 2:7) and He gives us the breath of life (Acts 2:1-8).  The breath of God is the Hebrew word ruwach which is breath, wind or spirit.  God is not contained in a body as we think.  Consider the wind, we don’t know where it comes from nor where it is going.  We only know when it blows past us (John 3:8). 

We need to understand that the nature of God is love.  Do we choose to really believe this?. His ultimate love is defined as agape (Greek) or dowd (Hebrew) love which is having affection for or being benevolent towards another.  Jesus loved us so much He died to cleanse of our sins and took our place on the cross (Rom. 5-8).  The Greek word phileo and the Hebrew word reya is having a close or personal friendship, as with David and Johnathan (1 Sam. 18:1).  God always has our best interests at heart (Heb: 12-6-11, Rom. 8:28).  We may even say that God’s love was His reason for creating.

So how did God, the creator, bring everything into existence?  God spoke “Let there be …” (Gen 1:1-29).  He spoke words and, for our sake, His words became flesh (John 1:1-5).  Speak of love!  His Word took our sins to the cross (1 Peter 2:24) and immediately opened a friendship or direct access, with the Father as the veil to the Holy of Holies was torn in two (Matt. 27:50-51).

God (Jesus) is our Savior (Exod. 15:2, Luke 2:11, John 3:16, John 4:42, 1 John 4:10-16).

Jesus is our healer, by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5, 1Peter 2:24).

God/Jesus is our protector (Psalms 91:4, 2 Thess. 3:3, Heb. 13:5).

The Lord is our teacher (Gen. 3:10-15, Matt. 10:19-20, John 14:16-17, 26).

God will provide for us (Gen. 1:28-30, 2 Corinth. 9:8, Phil. 4:19)

The Lord had a fellowship with Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:8-9).  He seeks fellowship with us (1 John 1:1-3, 1 Corinth. 13:14).

We can speak more about the qualities and characteristics of God but our choice is ‘do we accept Him for who He is or do we believe that God is just a fairy tale, a myth or something else’?

Accept

Job said that he knew all about God from what others had told him, but after his encounter with the Lord, he came to know who God really is (Job chapters 38-41, Job 42:5).  Do we know all about God?  Do we really know who He is and what He does for us?  Or do we just believe what others have told us?

In salvation, God is making a covenant, a pact, a contract, an agreement with us.  We’ve already mentioned some of the things Father has and continues to do for us but how many of us have examined our end of the bargain?

The first commandment God gave Moses was “You shall have no other gods before Me nor make for yourselves any graven image or likeness of anything in heaven above, the earth beneath, nor that which is in the water under the earth nor bow yourself  down before them and worship them (Exod. 20:3-5).  ‘Water’ used here is the Hebrew word mayim and could refer to running water, urine or even semen, in other words a stream, waste product (non-essential liquid) or even that which produces life.  Again, don’t make statues or pictures of these things and then give your love and devotion to these ‘them’.     

Jesus tells us that if we love HIM, keep His commandments (John 14:15).  When we read 1 John chapter four, John explains our ‘love’ relationship with Father and with everybody else.  We love God above all, then our neighbor (everybody else) as ourselves.  If we don’t love our neighbor, how then is the love of God abiding in us (1 John 4:1-21)?   Do we understand our side of this contract?  Do we choose love?  Do we choose that because God has loved us so we then care about the welfare and edification of those around us?

We accept the ‘condition’ that we love God and then others as Father has loved us … and then do it!  Or do we put anything and everything before God?

Understand

Our understanding of God’s love is discovered when we interact with Him and see the evidence of His love towards us.  Jesus tells the disciples that He is in the Father and he Father is in Him so as we believe on Jesus, He will give us whatsoever we ask in His name (John 14:11-14).  To make this a little clearer, Jesus declares that He abides in us and we bide in Him (John 15:1-9).  Do we see a deeper connection?  Have we chosen to abide in Jesus?   We ask and Jesus will meet our needs (Phil. 4:19).  When we let Him in, He will sup (abide) with us (Rev. 3:20). As with the woman with the issue of blood, answer to an unspoken request can also come (Matt. 9:20-22). Or as with Daniel, the answer to our prayer may not come immediately.  The spirit that ruled over Persia, for 21 days,  detained the angel bringing the answer to Daniel’s prayer, but the answer did come (Dan. 10: 8-14).  How many prayers has God answered for us?  How quickly or did we have to wait for a response?

As we abide in Jesus, the answer to our prayers will come.  Maybe not when we expect it or maybe not the way we might think, but it will come.  There is a song called “On Time God”.  We may not always understand when or how, but Father will always honor our obedience – in His timing (Ecc. 3:1)!  Experience helps us to understand God’s purpose, timing and blessings. Do we get ‘antsy’ and choose to move outside of God’s timing?   

Don’t doubt

Aside from faith, the biggest thing to remember is that faith doesn’t work where doubt abides.  Should we doubt, Father is not obligated to do things for us, we have to maintain absolute faith so that He will accomplish (bring) it to pass.  Doubt xxx’s out faith or at best delays it until we can truly believe God for what we ask.  Some examples:

I tell you, whatsoever you desire, when you pray, believe you receive (Mark 11:24).

If you ask in faith, don’t waiver for he who waivers is like the wave of the sea and is tossed bout so don’t let this one think he shall receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6-7).

Two blind men approached Jesus seeking a healing and Jesus responded “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”  The men said yes and Jesus touched their eyes and said “According to your faith let it be unto you.” (Matt. 9:27-29). 

Jesus had spoken to the barren fig tree and it withered away and Jesus said “Truly, if you (we) have faith and don’t doubt, not only can you do what was done to this fig tree, but you shall tell a mountain to be removed and cast into the sea and it shall be done.  What things you shall ask in prayer and in believing, you shall receive it” (Matt. 21:18-22).  

Father says that “concerning My sons and the work of My hands, command Me.” (Isa. 45:11).  Here, the Hebrew word for command is tsavah which means constitute, enjoin, appoint, charge, send with a command or set in order.  In connection with ‘not doubting’, this would imply, as we ask according to His will, we can come boldly before the lord, expecting our request to come to pass (1 John 5:14).  

I could go on with more examples but I trust that you are getting the picture?

Conclusion

So the Kingdom Mindset is believing that God is.  Accepting and understanding our relationship with the Lord.  Accept the fact the Father will do all that He says He will do and, as we abide in His love, we can come boldly before His throne knowing (not doubting) that He will grant our request.   Our choice is to develop and maintain that ‘love’ relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He is our strength to make the right choices. Live in His love.

 5-30-2026 Religion vs Faith

        

Today, how many people do we think practice a religion rather than living a faith?  I’m not going to talk about numbers but rather differences.

First, let’s look at three words: religion, religious and faith and see how the bible and dictionary define them.

First, there are no Hebrew words translated as religion or religious.  The obvious conclusion is that, even though the Hebrews practiced it, they didn’t call it as such.  I suspect that because their actions were determined by the ‘Law of Moses’, there was no need further for description of words.

Religion

The Greek words used for religion are threskeia (G2356)  which is religion, ceremonial observance, or worshipping and ioudaismos (G2454) which is religion or live according to Judaic Law.

‘Religion’ examples can be found in the book of Acts 25:5, Gal. 1:13 – 14, and James 1:26-27.

The dictionary defines religion as service and worship of God or supernatural commitment or devotion to a religious faith or observance.  A state of being religious.  Personal set of institutional of religious attitudes, beliefs or practices.  Conscious tenacity holding to a belief system.

Religious

Greek words for religious are sebomai (G4576) which is devout, religious or worship and threskos (G2357) which is ceremonial in worship, pious or religious.

Again, we can only find examples in Acts 13:43 and James 1:26.

The dictionary defines religious as being bound by vows, separated from secular (worldly) concerns devoted to a life of piety (holiness).

Very basically, religion is believing in a set of rules while religious is putting those rules into practice.

Faith

Faith is a different story.

Hebrew words for Faith are emuwn (H529) which means trusty, truth and emuwnah (H530) which means stability, steady, truth, verity.   Examples are in Deut. 32:20 and Hlabakuk 2:4.

Faithful aman (H539) support, be true, certain, trust or believe, steadfast.   Emeth (H571) faithful, true sure.  Examples are found in Deut. 7:9. Psalm 119:86. 

faithless – again no Hebrew word.

However, the Greek words for faith are: Pistis (G4102* used most) is persuasion, credence, conviction, assurance, belief, fidelity.  Elpis (G 1680) means confidence, and examples for faithless can be found in Luke 17:5 and Acts 11:2 AND Heb. 10:23.

The Greek word for Faithful pistos (4103) be trusted, faithful, sure, true.  Examples are in Matt. 24:45 or Acts 16:15.

Faithless is oligopistos  (G3640) lack of faith, lack of confidence or apistos (G571) untrustworthy, does not believe, unbeliever.  Passage for faithless can be found in John 20:27.

The Dictionary defines:

Faith as allegiance, loyalty, fidelity, firm belief in something that cannot be proved, strong conviction

Faithful is belief, complete confidence, conviction, steadfast affection, given with strong assurance.

Faithless is not trustworthy, disloyal.

 

So faith and faithful bring into not just ‘knowing’ the principles and putting those principles into practice but truly believing in what we profess with all our heart, mind and spirit (Matt. 22:37).  That is we truly understand who God is and what we believe and accept it without any doubt.

In a cult people allow someone else to form their belief system and either don’t know or don’t care about checking it out to see if what is being said is true or not.  They practice a ‘religion’, a set of concepts and rules which they really (usually) don’t understand.

We all have our own concepts of what these words mean, but hopefully, this list will bring us to a better understanding of how we can discover what we are reading in the scriptures or hearing from other people.  All helping us to follow the pathway God, the Creator of all things, has intended.  That is discovering the difference between just knowing about rites and rituals but living in their truth from our heart (Job 42:5).

As Christians, we all should have had that personal experience with the Lord when He convicts us that were not yet His child (unsaved).  That is we need ‘salvation’. The realization that Jesus Christ is our Lord as well as ‘Savior’ and with the need to confess Jesus with our mouth and believe in our heart that He is our Savior (Rom. 10:9).  We recognize that He shed His blood on Calvary to cleanse us from our unrighteousness, our iniquity and our sin (1 John 1:7).  For thirty years Jesus walked as one of us, then for a little more than three years (3 yearly Passovers John 2:23, John 6:4 and John 11:55) Jesus taught and preached the kingdom of God to His disciples (Luke 3:23, Helping us so we can understand our relationship with the living God (Acts 1:3).  That Relationship is that The Father is in Jesus, Jesus is in the Father.  The Holy Ghost was with the disciples in Jesus yet He (the Holy Ghost) shall be in us as well comforting us, teaching us and helping us to remember what we have been taught (John 14:9-26).   

After the crucifixion, Jesus arose on the third day showing us that there is victory over sin AND death (John 2:19, Mark 16:1-6, 1 Corinth. 15:3-6) and we do have the promise of eternal fellowship with the Lord as we live in His Word and that He has given us the assurance we are His forever (Psalm 23:6, Matt. 28:18-20, 1 Thess. 4:16-17).  The emphasis is abiding in the Love of God (John 15:10-17).

As Christians, Jesus has given us His Holy Ghost which indwelled Him (Matt. 3:11-17), giving us the same power in which He operated (Acts 1:8).  As Christians, our bodies are the temple of God (1Corinth. 6:19).  We may compare a temple with a tabernacle being that a tabernacle was the place where God first met with His children (Exod. 33:7-10). A temple or church is where we meet with God today (as  group) and can be compared to a tabernacle.  In the Hebrew, tabernacle is the word ohel  (H168)  a temple or dwelling place.  The Greek word is skene (G4633) which is a tent or dwelling place.  I like the idea of ‘dwelling place’ for John said the Holy Ghost will be in us and Father dwells in us through the Holy Ghost (again John 14). Let me say again, the Holy Ghost dwells in us.  Twice we see where believers received Jesus but not the Holy Ghost at the same time (Acts 8:5-17, Acts 19:1-7).  I, myself, was ‘baptized’ in the Holy Ghost six years after I had received Jesus into my heart.  Jesus is with us (Josh. 1:9, Heb. 13:5, Matt. 28:20) and we are in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus.  Think about this connection for a while!

Father gives Jesus the works to do and Jesus gives us those works to do.  Jesus says that as we keep His Commandments, we can ask Father anything in His name and He (Jesus) will do it enabling us to do what Jesus, Himself, did (John 14:11-17).  All because Jesus has returned to the Father, yet, He will come back for us (John 14:3)!

The difference between religion and faith comes into reality through our relationship with the Lord.  If we love Jesus, we are going to do His works.  If we don’t do His works do we truly love Jesus or do we just love the praises of man?  Do we do the works to show that the love of Jesus and He abides in us (via the Holy Ghost)?    Do we just do a set of rules set forth by man?  Or do we truly embrace God’s love by living the lifestyle Father has set before us?  Thus a turning point,  moving from religion into faith.

Amen

 

 

05-16-26    I Represent the Resurrection

This is a revisit from a lesson from 1/12/2020, over 6 years ago.

 

Jesus sent the twelve apostles out two by two giving them ‘power’ over unclean spirits and sickness and disease (Matt. 10:1, Luke 9:1-2).  Later, He gave another seventy disciples instructions on how they should proceed (Luke 10:1-16).  The seventy returned, amazed that even the devils were subject to their commands in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17).

Jesus also tells us that as we believe on Him, we can do the same works He did because the Father is in Him and He is in the Father (John 14:10-12).  How do we know this?  How do we know we have this ability as well?  Because Jesus gave this ability not to just the apostles, but to seventy of His disciples as well.  Note that the apostles were specifically chosen by Jesus to be prime examples His Word.  But the seventy disciples, also believers, were ‘regular guys’, just like you and me.

Now Jesus knew that they had to be equipped so after His resurrection, He had His disciples gather around Him and He breathed upon them and said “Receive the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22).  Did they receive the Holy Ghost at that time?  No because Jesus told them (later) to wait for the promise from the Father and when the Holy Ghost is come upon them (us) they shall have power (Acts 1:4-8).  We are talking about two different Greek words here being translated as ‘power’.  Matthew 10 and Luke 9 both use the Greek word exousia (G1849), which is translated ‘power’ but carries more of the connotation of ‘authority’.  In Acts chapter1, power is the Greek word dunamis (G1411) which means miraculous or explosive power.  A quick comparison is if someone commits a crime, the police officer can come and arrest him and put him in jail.  However, the judge can put him in prison for as long as the penalty requires.  Get the picture?

So back to being equipped.  Jesus promises us that the Holy Ghost will be our comforter and He will be in us (John 14: 16-17).  This brings us to Acts chapter two.  The apostles and disciples were in the upper room, in one accord when what sounded like a mighty rushing wind filled the house in which they were sitting.  Then what appeared as cloven tongues of fire sat upon each one of them and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance (Acts 2:1-4).  Also read Acts 2:5-18 for a more complete picture of what happened. 

Are we clear on what we have to work with?  Our title is “I Represent the Resurrection”, so let’s see how this can be.

John 11:1-45, focus v20-26

Martha, her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus lived in the town of Bethany, just about two miles outside Jerusalem on the hillside of the Mt. of Olives.  Lazarus had become ill so they sent for Jesus.  Lazarus died.  Jesus lingered where He was, then arrived in Bethany four days later.

When Martha heard Jesus was coming, she went out to greet Him and said “Lord, had you been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that whatever you ask of God, He will give you.”

Jesus said to her “Your brother shall rise again.”

Martha replied “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”

Suddenly, I can feel everything coming to a standstill.  Perhaps the birds quit singing in the treetops.  Maybe the breeze stops whispering across the cheeks of our face.  I can see Jesus pausing here for a moment.  Maybe he takes a deep sigh.  Maybe a slight smile parts his lips.  Maybe His head moves slightly left to right.  Perhaps even leans forward a bit, maybe He looks Martha right in the eye.  (I don’t know, I wasn’t there and the bible doesn’t say) but then Jesus does say to Martha:

“I AM the resurrection and the life.  He who believes on Me though he may be dead, yet He shall live.  He who believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”

Jesus tells Martha that He IS the resurrection.  Father let that sink into my heart for a while then He started me thinking, more than once, that is many times over the years.

Hmmm. I am a Christian.  That being so, I represent Jesus here in this world.  For some, I may be the only representative of Jesus they may encounter.  I represent Jesus who is the resurrection, therefore I represent the resurrection.  I am not the resurrection but because I do represent Jesus who is the resurrection, I DO represent the resurrection.

Father got me to thinking about being a representative of Jesus.  A representative is (if you will) like an ambassador.  The US sends ambassadors to other nations to discuss our (and their) best interests in their relationship with us.  The ambassador operates in full authority and power of the US in that other country.  Of course, there may be matters he may have to refer back to the president and congress (he cannot declare war), but he does have the authority and power to make decisions and agreements with the other nation.  The ambassador acts on behalf of our nation in that other country. We act on behalf of Jesus in this world!

We are ambassadors for Jesus Christ in this world.  Jesus is currently in heaven and He has given us authority to operate on His behalf, in this world. 

Jesus tells His disciples that He will give them another comforter. Jesus promises us that same Comforter shall be in us (John 14:15-18) and the Comforter (Holy Ghost) will give us power (Acts 1:8).  So we have authority and we have power to operate as an ambassador for Jesus Christ in this world.  He also tells the tjem that the Comforter was “with” them (His disciples)  and shall be “in them”.  Jesus, as the fullness of the Godhead (Col. 2:8-10), was the presence of the Holy Ghost as He walked among the disciples, but Jesus was not ‘in’ them.  So Jesus promised them (and us) that the Holy Ghost would take up residence in them (us).  Jesus needed the fullness of the Holy Ghost so He could accomplish His mission (the cross/resurrection/ascension).  It would have been difficult for the Holy Ghost to minimize His work in Jesus to enter the disciples – at that time.  But, after the ascension – no problemo!

Whoa!  So I am an ambassador for Jesus!  I am acting in His stead, in this world!  I represent Jesus in this world and as I represent Jesus (who is the Resurrection), that means I represent the resurrection!  As John (the Baptist) professed that he wasn’t the Messiah (John 3:28), I profess that I am (clearly) not the resurrection but I DO represent the resurrection (Jesus).  Jesus says that we will do all that He did and greater (John 14:12).  So we walk in full authority and, through the Holy Ghost, the power that Jesus gives us!  WOW!

Now, I’m sharing with you something in which I am still growing and trying to put into action in my own life.  I know, in my head, what this means but the process is translating it’s reality into my heart and then into my actions …  Even today I’ve seen progress, but I’m not where I’d like to be (how about you?).

Father would like to see ALL His children come into this mode where we can absolutely trust Him in and for all things.  He desires for each and every one of us to operate in the full authority and power through (the Holy Ghost) which He has granted us.

As I said, I’m still growing with the translating this into my heart, my own life.  I find myself, oft times needing to go into the “Job mode”.  Remember his problems?  Yet, through it all, Job never doubted who God is.  He may have thought God unfair (Job 23:1-5), yet in the end, he came to a clear understanding of who God is and what his relationship should be with the Creator of all things (Job 42:1-5).  Yes, many times Father has answered my prayers on the spot, but more often, there’s a process involved – at least for me.  He’s teaching me and I am learning the depth and breadth of what He is expecting from me.

In my head, I set something before the Lord and I expect to see it done.  Yet, I always try to make sure I have no hindrances.  I try to clear the air before I ask.  That is assure that there is no ‘open’ sin in my life.  But, when I don’t see the answer coming right away, I have to go into the “Job mode”, that is knowing that God is God no matter what I see (or don’t see),  I continue trusting in Him. At times, I may have to go into the Daniel mode.  The answer to Daniel’s prayer was delayed as the angel, bringing the response, was delayed by the Prince of Persia (a demonic entity) for twenty-one days (Dan. 10:12-14).  We may experience spiritual interference in our prayers.  That’s why ‘we don’t give up the ship’ but keep pressing forward.  Intellectually, I know Father always has my best interests at His heart, yet the task is translating that knowledge into my heart isn’t always easy.  Coming to where I have absolutely no fear nor doubt.  God speaks, I do. I know His Word, but bringing it into a personal realization (reality) isn’t always so easy for me.    

And yet another thing to consider is God’s timing.  He has selected a task for me (and for all of us) even from before birth (Jer. 1:5).  He has ordered my steps (Psalm 37:23).  All is done in His timing (Eccl. 3:1).  He may show us something today but is not meant, perhaps, for many years as with Joseph, from the dream to the second in command in Egypt (Gen. 37:5-11, 42:5-6). [Gen. 37:2, Gen. 41:46, about 13 years].  And yes, Joseph experienced some negative things in those years.

And, of course, there is our own doubt.  Jesus says to believe and don’t doubt (James 1:5-8).  Too many times I’ve doubted would God really use me?  Or there are others present with greater authority than I.  I have doubted with ‘will people really listen to me?’ after all, I am a ‘nobody’ (I am not well known outside of my circle of friends).  I still wrestle with my own insecurities trusting Father to implement what He has said.

For years, Father has been drilling this into my head:  Trust Him, learn what He teaches me, then go forth when He says it is time to go carrying the message He has given me.  I’m actually already operating in the ministry Father has given me, – through the blog.  Those entries are what the Holy Ghost gives me.  I used to be concerned whether or not people would actually read the blog.  Now, I’m concerned with ‘not if’ but rather that those who do read it would be blessed, encouraged and/or edified!  Through doubt, we are our own worst enemies. 

Today, too many Christians serve God intellectually.  For the most part, they know the Word (or at least what the words say) and many have some understanding.  The key is moving that knowledge into our hearts so we can confidently act on it.  Satan knows the Word, too.  He knows it better than any of us.  He just chooses not to live it (Isa. 14:12-14, Ezek. 28:15-17, Eph. 2:2). 

So, not because of ‘who we are’ but rather ‘Who is inside us’, we discover the blind can see, the lame can walk, sick are healed, devils are cast out, etc., etc.  The Words in the bible are supposed to become more than just words but a reality in our lives.  As we represent the resurrection, our Lord desires us to operate as He did.  Signs and wonders shall follow those who believe (Mark 16:17-18).  AND He gives us His strength (via the HG) to do it! (Psalm 28:7-8, Isa. 40:31, Acts 1:8).

I have seen answered prayers for a ton of little’ things that come into my life– even on a  daily basis.  I regularly pray for the growth of others and over time, Father has shown me physical evidence of those prayers being answered.  He has also shown me how He has spared me from potential disaster, more than once.

The closer we draw to the Lord, the greater the reality of His Word becomes in our lives.  It moves from head knowledge to absolute trust from our heart.  The closer we walk with the Lord, the greater the reality of these things coming to pass in our own lives.  That God will use us – as we allow Him!      

  Drawing closer to our Lord is growth and that should be our goal.  We do represent the resurrection.  How good of a representative are we?  How close do we dare walk with Jesus?

Note:  Father actually gave me a song “I Represent the Resurrection” in 2017.  Here we are nine years later.  #9 = fruit of the Spirit; Divine completeness from the Father, God’s Visitation. Father is showing me, in the world around me, how this is unfolding today.  No, I didn’t include the lyrics but as a clue – in Christ Jesus, as a steamroller we are capable of rolling over the deeds of Satan and his cohorts; better than a steam shovel, Jesus has dug our way out of the pits of Hell; and as a cement mixer Jesus is telling us that though we are all different, in His love we are all uniting under the banner of ‘Jesus Christ, our Lord’.  We need to make this personal.

So, is Father truly bringing full fruition of the song “I Represent the Resurrection?  I see it unfolding around me.  I found it interesting that a song written about construction equipment, released  by James Taylor in 1970 and also in 1973 by Elvis Presley, can bring to us the a reality of Jesus in our hearts.

Amen